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» LymeNet Flash » Questions and Discussion » Medical Questions » How to help the immune system during shingles outbreak?

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Author Topic: How to help the immune system during shingles outbreak?
hopeful4
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I think I'm having a shingles episode. I had it only once before, about 2 years ago. I'm going to try to get in to see a PCP tomorrow to have the effected area looked at, to be sure.

The last few weeks, I've been fighting an oncoming cold, sore throat. It never got very bad, and in addition to everything I'm already taking, I added in Airborne and homeopathic Cold Calm. So the cold never really took hold, but my body was fighting something.

The shingles appeared a few days ago. I've been putting emu oil on it, and that helps soothe the area. But I'm wondering more about my immune system.

I've been very stressed the last 6 months, and I know this is not good for the immune system. I also have Hashimoto's. I take a lot of supplements including for stress, B vitamins, maitake, andrographis, NAC, and more. I am making an effort to reduce stress with yoga, meditaion, walking. I eat really well, I'm gluten free, and food conscious.

What do you think might help prevent getting the shingles, and improve my immune system?

Thanks folks.

Posts: 873 | From WA | Registered: Dec 2005  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Carol in PA
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Elderberry, lomatium, and l-lysine are anti-viral.

Here are several products that reviewers have mentioned helped with shingles.


Clear Products, Clear Shingles, Herpes, and UTI's
http://www.iherb.com/Clear-Products-Clear-Shingles-Herpes-and-UTI-s-60-Capsules/14014?at=0

Now Foods, L-Lysine Powder
http://www.iherb.com/Now-Foods-L-Lysine-Powder-1-lb-454-g/653?at=0

Source Naturals, Wellness Formula, Herbal Defense Complex
http://www.iherb.com/Source-Naturals-Wellness-Formula-Herbal-Defense-Complex-240-Capsules/5353?at=0


In addition, infrared light therapy can help heal shingle pain.

Posts: 6947 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
hopeful4
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Thanks for the info, Carol. Have you had shingles, and tried any of these?
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Carol in PA
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No, I haven't had shingles.
But some of the reviewers of those products did.

Posts: 6947 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Abxnomore
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Monolaurin would be helpful.

http://www.lifeextensionvitamins.com/cranblad.html

You can get this product much cheaper but this link has a good explanation.

Posts: 5191 | From Lyme Zone | Registered: Jan 2009  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
linky123
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It depends upon how long you have had them. If you can get to a doctor and get on an antiviral, you can nip it.

They put me on one called Famvir (I think), and it stopped it from spreading, but didn't cure the sore spots that were already there. They had to run their course.

I would call the md, any pcp should be able to identify and tx it, asap and see if you can get it tx as it can be quite painful.

But you have to catch it early.

--------------------
'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.' Matthew 11:28

Posts: 2607 | From Hooterville | Registered: Apr 2009  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
glm1111
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Cocounut water is antiviral and antifungal. VERY helpful in calming things down. You might want to give it a try. I had shingles, and what calmed it down for me was using antiparasitic herbs.


Gael

--------------------
PARASITES/WORMS ARE NOW
RECOGNIZED AS THE NUMBER 1 CO-INFECTION IN LYME DISEASE BY ILADS*

Posts: 6418 | From philadelphia pa | Registered: Jul 2008  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
CountryMouse
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I got Valtrex several days after the outbreak and it lessened the severity. Try to see if they will call a script in. It won't hurt to try it, but it needs to be started right away.

--------------------
Country Mouse

6/2011 IgX:
IGG: 31 IND, 41+++, 45+, 58+
IGM: 31+, 39 IND, 41 IND, 83-93 IND
Band 31 confirmed to be Lyme epitope by Igenex 7/2011

8/2011 IgX: POSITIVE
IGG: 31+, 34 IND, 39 IND, 41++, 45+, 58+
IGM: 31+, 34 IND, 39 IND, 41++, 83-93+

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hopeful4
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Thanks for all of your suggestions. My PCP is prescribing acyclovir, the antiviral medication. In addition, high dosage of Lysine, Vit C, and D3.

Is it common to have some malaise with the shingles episode? I'm feeling spacy and unfocused a bit.

Posts: 873 | From WA | Registered: Dec 2005  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
linky123
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Hope it works and you are better soon!

--------------------
'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.' Matthew 11:28

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TF
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Shingles can only occur if the immune system is weak. So, you are smart to focus on building up your immune system. You have already gotten shingles twice in the last 2 years.

In addition to this keeping shingles away (which can be totally debilitating and even cause death by blood poisoning, shock, etc.), it will also enable you to recover from lyme and not relapse.

So, strengthening your immune system is really a priority.

The best way to strengthen it (according to Dr. Burrascano and the lyme doctor who cured me) is by doing one continuous hour of weight lifting every OTHER day.

Dr. Burrascano discovered that this form of non-aerobic exercise does not depress the immune system as long as aerobic exercise and then it causes the immune system to rebound higher than it was before the exercise.

You do this every other day to take advantage of the rebound of the immune system that occurs 24 hours after the exercise. It is a sure-fire way to strengthen your immune system.

I did this and got rid of lyme and company. That was nearly 7 years ago. Then, last year, when my immune system got weak from 3 months of steroid nasal sprays (I didn't know it was a steroid), I did it again.

After that nasal spray, I was catching every illness that came down the pike. I was sick with one thing or another for 3 months straight.

Then, I started the weight-lifting program like I did when I had lyme. The illnesses stopped completely right away, and I have been feeling great! It has been one year ago now since I started this form of exercise again.

I just go in a weight room and use the machines--upper body and lower, and crunches--for one easy hour.

This really works. Do a full body workout each time. Don't worry if you can't lift much weight. That does not matter at all.

Read in Burrascano all of the benefits of this particular exercise program. It is believed to drive the lyme meds deeper into the tissues where it can kill the germs much better, plus many other benefits.

The lyme doc who cured me said this exercise program was a must if I was ever to get rid of lyme. It keeps you from relapsing also. You will relapse until your immune system is strong. The other lyme docs I recommend all say the same.

I started this exercise program when I was extremely weak with lyme. It took me months to work up to the full one hour. Don't give up. Just keep at it.

Start reading on page 31 of Burrascano. Here is the start of the section:

"LYME DISEASE REHABILITATION

Despite antibiotic treatments, patients will NOT return to normal unless they exercise, so therefore an aggressive rehab program is absolutely necessary. It is a fact that a properly executed exercise program can actually go beyond the antibiotics in helping to clear the symptoms and to maintain a remission.

Although the scientific basis for the benefits of exercises is not known, there are several reasonable theories...."

http://www.ilads.org/lyme_disease/B_guidelines_12_17_08.pdf

My lyme doc also told me to eat garlic or Kyolic twice per day.

If you read that portion of Burrascano, you will see that aerobic exercise is NOT what you want to do right now. So, don't do much walking for exercise. Nothing aerobic right now. It depresses your immune system for a much longer period of time compared to non-aerobic exercise.

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springshowers
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L Lysine Lots of it. At least 5000 mg to 8000 mg a day during the outbreak or more and then maintain at 3000 mg after that ongoing.

Amazing results as it combats viral infections and you will feel the results within the first two days

Posts: 2747 | From Unites States Of America | Registered: Apr 2009  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
hopeful4
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Just got my internet access back up after 4 days without it, due to the huge snow storm and after-effects we've have in the Pacific NW.

I started to feel better the second day on the regime. I could feel energy returning to me, and hadn't realized how droopy I'd gotten. I actually spent hours cleaning the house up!

Thanks TF for the reminder about the weight lifting program. Really, it's something I've never done, not really sure where to begin with it. I do yoga 2x/week, and that is awesome for me. I "should" be doing that more often, as well. I was walking about 5x/wk, but not so much in the winter.

I'm sure I could get with my Dr. or a physical therapist to show me how to do the exercises. I do hear you, TF, and thank you for telling me how much it has helped you.

In the last year I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's, it's an auto-immune disorder where the immune system attacks the thyroid. So, I wonder if the strength training can also help with that?

Springshowers, my PCP has me taking 20,000 IU of D; 6,000 mg of Lysine; and 6,000 mg of C per day. And yes, I started feeling better the second day.

Have a great day.

Posts: 873 | From WA | Registered: Dec 2005  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
   

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